Abstract: The invention is directed to a UV light resistant, visibly transparent, urethane golf ball topcoat composition for use with UV curable inks and to golf balls incorporating such a topcoat. The topcoat includes an optical brightener that absorbs at least some ultraviolet light at wavelengths greater than about 350 nm, and emits visible light, and a light stabilizer package. The light stabilizer package includes at least one UV light absorber and, optionally, at least one light stabilizer, such as a HALS. The UV light absorber absorbs at least some UV light at wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 370 nm, and has an absorption peak at a wavelength between about 330 nm and about 360 nm and a UV light absorbance at a wavelength of about 350 nm that is at least about 3 times greater than the UV light absorbance at a wavelength of about 370 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides a two-part urethane topcoat essentially including a polyol component, an isocyanate component and a hydroxy functional, polyether-modified polysiloxane copolymer component. The polysiloxane copolymer component has a molecular weight ranging from between about 1,000 to about 10,000; and is typically present in an amount ranging from between about 0.001 to about 10 weight percent. The equivalent weight (i.e., a ratio of the molecular weight of the polymer to one functional group) ratio of the --NCO molecule to the --OH molecule ranges from between about 1.0 to about 2.0. The top coat coating prepared in accordance with the present invention has an improved the abrasion resistance, mar resistance and detergent resistance.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a primer composition having a volatile organic content (V.O.C.) less than about 1.5. A pigmented or clear topcoat may be applied over this primer composition. The primer composition includes a substantially solvent-free urethane dispersion and a substantially solvent-free acrylic. The solvent-free urethane component and the solvent-free acrylic component could contain as much as 15 weight percent of a solvent as long as the combined solvent content of these two components is such that the V.O.C. of the resulting primer is less than about 1.5. The amount of the solvent-free urethane component present in the low V.O.C. primer prepared in accordance with the present invention ranges from between about 10 to about 90 weight percent, while the amount of the solvent-free acrylic component ranges from between about 90 to about 10 weight percent. The solvent-free urethane component has a tensile strength which ranges from between about 4,000 to about 9,000 psi.